2013-12-08 - The Winter Boat Trip (200km, West London Audax)

This is the calendar version of the Audax UK Perm, The Boat Trip, which has been pressed into service to fill the gap in the calendar left by Terry Lister's legendary South Bucks Winter Warmer. Terry is having a year off and I hope he will be back next year with his popular events.

This is a very different event from the Ditchling Devil, being a no frills "x-event" but no the less fun for that. The aim is to give hardy "Round the Year" types a chance of a good run out and chalk up their December 200km . The event runs from The Wonder Cafe on the Uxbridge Road nr Hillingdon and has a pub finish at The Tichenham Inn a Wetherspoons Pub in Ickenham,* so there is a chance for a bite to eat and a pint after the ride.

The route itself is mostly "rolling flat" on good roads, just right for a winter's day, though there will be some lanes later on, so bring your lights. We head out of town via Great Kingshill and Chalfont St Giles to Quaintomn Memorial hall for 2nd breakfast, then it's off to Stoke Bruerne for lunch at the canalside Boat Inn. After lunch we head for home stopping for tea and cake at another canelside cafe, The Bluebell Cafe at Marsworth nr Tring before rolling on to The Tich for a pint to end the day. What's not to like?

It's an early 7:30 start to make the best use of the daylight hours and catch the cafe in the afternoon. The routesheet with rider notes and GPX are now on line on the Audax UK Website Clicky. Note that for logistical reasons the first control is now at Quainton Memorial hall, where the local volunteer group will be serving Bacon Butties accompanied by mugs of tea.

The start and finish locations are about 2km apart, literally at opposite ends of a Long Lane. For those driving, a free car park is available near the finish point, so park there and ride down to the start. See rider notes on the routesheet for details.

I was talking to Terry and his wife about this at the end of the Anfractuous (after he and his friends had kindly dragged me round the course). It's the day after my club's xmas party, so if all goes well I'll be in no fit state to do this, but if not, it sounds like a great day.